After a few lean years (thanks to the recession), the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) came roaring back this year to full strength. With sold-out exhibitor space (1,072 exhibiting companies), over 78,000 attendees, and a huge parking lot outside with over 100 of the finest rigs around, this was a great way to kick-off the new show season. Held March 21-23 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, the show covered over 1.2 million square feet of indoor space, which was good, because it was cold outside!
On Wednesday, the day before the show opened, it was 20 degrees outside, and if you added in the wind-chill factor, it “felt like” 11 degrees! The local weatherman on the TV pointed out the fact that it was 50 degrees colder than the same day last year. But, surprisingly, that did not keep many from coming to the show or walking the outside parking lots.
Walking the floor inside, the displays were amazing and the place was packed from wall-to-wall with people and exhibits. Everybody was there, but there weren’t really any big announcements or unveilings. There was a big focus on fuel efficiency this year, as companies promoted their various tires, additives, aerodynamic packages, anti-idling devices and other fuel-saving products. Cummins had a neat wall display of pictures and information about their co-founder, Clessie Cummins, and the early history of the Cummins diesel engine. There was even a cool black sedan from the 1930s, equipped with a Cummins diesel engine, parked in their booth.
Over in our booth, while handing out thousands of free posters and magazines, we had visitors from all over the world stop by, including friends from Japan, Australia, France and Canada, just to name a few. It seems that our little publication finds its way to every corner of the globe! As usual, we had a terrific team of volunteers helping us out in the booth. Marion Stolz of Courtland, MN runs the booth and makes sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing. She also brings that great summer sausage from Schmidt’s Meat Market in Nicollet, MN for us to snack on during the show. Our other “helpers” included Jim Stolz, Jed DeBardeleben, Frank Strohmyer, Troy Miller and Ciara Sleeth. Thanks for all your help!
One night we were invited to a VIP dinner hosted by Carl Carstens of Rockwood Products. Two seats at this dinner, which was attended by truck model Agnes Olech, photographer Roger Snider, videographer Chris Fiffie, one of Rockwood’s programmers (Austin), and Erik and Dan from 10-4, were raffled off in the Rockwood booth during the show. A young kid won, but two crazy guys on holiday from Australia offered the kid a couple hundred bucks for his tickets (they really wanted to hang out with Agnes), which he happily gave up. We had an amazing dinner at this posh restaurant/art gallery called “Proof” and had tons of fun with this group. Our thanks go out to Carl for including us in this special dinner.
Back at the show, out in the parking lot, there were a ton of new trucks to photograph and admire. It was nice to see some new blood out there! As you can see in the photos on the pages of this report, there were plenty of standout rigs, including two from Farmer’s Oil. PDI also brought out an extremely-modified Peterbilt that was over-the-top. Using the outline of their logo, this shape was integrated into everything, including the back window, the deck plate, the holes in the wheels and more. Jonathan Eilen brought out his latest creation called “Aftermath” and cleaned house. Phil Langevin, Larry Diller, Dallas McCord, and several others also had cool new (or redone) rigs on the lot. Shawn Gibson’s “Wicked Obsession” Peterbilt was lookin’ top-notch, too – he bagged a bunch of trophies!
After the awards ceremony on Saturday morning, everyone headed out to the parking lot where PDI was finally going to draw the name of the winner of the pink and black 2001 Peterbilt 379 they built to raise money for cancer research. Selling raffle tickets at truck shows for over a year, PDI was able to present Lucretia Gilbert of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation with a $100,000 donation. Kentucky’s Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes came out to pull the winning name from a spinning polished fuel tank. The winner, Art Pflughoeft of Wisconsin, was not present, but they were able to get him on the phone and inform him of his prize. Art told the crowd how he was moved to buy the raffle tickets at a show because his grandmother had recently died from breast cancer – I guess it was meant to be.
Like last year, the folks who run the truck beauty contest portion of this huge event put together and printed a special “Championship Report” of the show right then and there. Putting the whole thing together after all of the trucks were registered and parked, this beautifully-printed, full color, 116-page book features pictures of every truck at the show, along with other information. It is an incredible feat for them to get it all together, print 5,000 copies, and then get them all distributed, all before the show ends. Our hats go off to Bud Farquhar, Ron Huey, Cheri Kimball, Jason Alt, Randy & Jona Rebillard, Jennifer Samborski and Lindsay Anhalt, not only for their hard work on this program, but also for running such a well-organized event. To view this “Championship Report” click here.
With the economy finally starting to pick up again, maybe this will be a good year – or, at least better than the last few. If you have never been to MATS, we highly encourage you to get there! Next year’s show is scheduled for March 27-29, 2014. And if this year’s show is any indication as to how next year will be, you might want to start making your reservations now.
WORKING TRUCK CLASSES
BOBTAIL (2000 & OLDER): 1st Randy & Missy Victory of Keiser, AR – 1999 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Troy Huddleston of Yale, IL – 1991 Freightliner 120 Classic; 3rd John Byers Jr. of Ruther Glen, VA – 1988 Freightliner.
COMBO (2000 & OLDER): 1st Bud Westhafer of Apple Creek, OH – 1995 Kenworth W900 & 2013 E-Pack Frameless; 2nd Kenneth Fisher of Muscoda, WI – 2007 Peterbilt 379 & 2007 East BST.
BOBTAIL (2001 & NEWER): 1st Dallas McCord of Anderson, IN – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Jonathan Eilen of Hampton, MN – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Billy Powell of Louisville, KY – 2010 Peterbilt 389.
COMBO (2001 & NEWER): 1st Jeremey Graves of Anthony, KS – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Mississippi Tanker; 2nd Kevin Pascavis of Richfield, WI – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2008 MAC w/Sliding Tarp System; 3rd Larry Diller of Myerstown, PA – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2012 MAC Step-Deck.
FIRST SHOW (BOBTAIL): 1st Larry Wheeler of Crown Point, IN – 2004 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Wayne & Deborah Carney of Kingman, AZ – 2013 KW T660; 3rd Claudio Scetto of Washago, ON, Canada – 1990 Peterbilt 379.
FIRST SHOW (COMBO): 1st Joe Davis of Lebanon, IN – 2004 Peterbilt
379 & 2013 Eby Livestock Trailer; 2nd Tom Bissell of St. Louis, MI – 2007 Kenworth W900 & 2014 East Super Train; 3rd Russell Langley of Hubbard, OH – 2005 International 9400 IH & 1999 Atoka Low Boy.
NEW TRUCK (BOBTAIL): 1st Ryan VanHaitsma of Zeeland, MI – 2012 Peterbilt 389; 2nd John Rhodes of Jeffersonville, IN – 2014 Peterbilt 389; 3rd Ryan Almon of Owensville, IN – 2013 Peterbilt 389.
NEW TRUCK (COMBO): 1st Todd Landoll of Marysville, KS – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Landoll 835; 2nd Brett Cole of Elk City, OK – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2014 XL-Specialized; 3rd Mike’s Trucking Ltd of Galloway, OH – 2013 Kenworth T800 & 2013 Vantage.
PAINT/GRAPHICS (BOBTAIL): 1st Jonathan Eilen of Hampton, MN – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Dallas McCord of Anderson, IN – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Ryan Almon of Owensville, IN – 2013 Peterbilt 389.
PAINT/GRAPHICS (COMBO): 1st Jeremey Graves of Anthony, KS – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Mississippi Tanker; 2nd Cory Radtke of West Bend, WI – 2005 Kenworth W900L & 2008 XL40; 3rd Kevin Pascavis of Richfield, WI – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2008 MAC w/Sliding Tarp System.
LIGHTS (BOBTAIL): 1st Dallas McCord of Anderson, IN – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Randy & Missy Victory of Keiser, AR – 1999 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Ryan Almon of Owensville, IN – 2013 Peterbilt 389.
LIGHTS (COMBO): 1st Jeremey Graves of Anthony, KS – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Mississippi Tanker; 2nd Phillip Miarer of Fostoria, OH – 2006 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Joe Davis of Lebanon, IN – 2004 Peterbilt 379 & 2013 Eby Livestock Trailer.
ANTIQUE (BOBTAIL): 1st Rod Obbink of Macatawa, MI – 1982 Peterbilt 362; 2nd Matt Kelley of Rockport, IN – 1987 Mack R688 ST; 3rd John Byers Sr. of Montpelier, VA – 1988 Mack Superliner.
ANTIQUE (COMBO): 1st Chuck Stoneking of Holbrook, PA – 1986 Kenworth K100 & 2005 Great Dane Reefer; 2nd Bill Warner Jr. of Circleville, WV – 1987 Peterbilt 359 & 2014 East Genesis; 3rd David Strickland of Cana, VA – 1972 Peterbilt 359 & 1981 Great Dane.
COMPANY-OWNED COMBO: 1st Cory Radtke of West Bend, WI – 2005 Kenworth W900L & 2008 XL40; 2nd Tom Scholton of Zeeland, MI – 2012 Peterbilt 389 & 2012 Utility Dry Van; 3rd Dean Jay of Ucon, ID – 2007 Peterbilt 379 & 2012 MAC Flatbed.
INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st Jonathan Eilen- Hampton, MN – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Phillip Miarer of Fostoria, OH – 2006 Peterbilt 379; 3rd Alex Larsen of West Bend, WI – 2007 Peterbilt 378.
INTERIOR (OEM SLEEPER): 1st Dallas McCord of Anderson, IN – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Kevin Pascavis of Richfield, WI – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2008 MAC w/Sliding Tarp System; 3rd Bill & Marie Sandvik of Valley Center, CA – 2005 Peterbilt 379.
ENGINE: 1st Jonathan Eilen of Hampton, MN – 2007 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Ryan VanHaitsma of Zeeland, MI – 2012 Peterbilt 389; 3rd Jeremey Graves of Anthony, KS – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Mississippi Tanker.
LIMITED MILEAGE CLASSES
BEST LIGHTS (BOBTAIL): Jed Howard & Andy Geary of St. George, UT (PDI) – 2001 Peterbilt 379.
BEST LIGHTS (COMBO): Brian Davis of Owensville, IN – 2005 Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Wilson Hopper.
BEST INTERIOR: Shawn Gibson of Broken Bow, OK – 2013 Peterbilt 389.
BEST PAINT/GRAPHICS (BOBTAIL): Shawn Gibson of Broken Bow, OK – 2013 Peterbilt 389.
BEST PAINT/GRAPHICS (COMBO): Bryan Mantz of Anthony, KS – 2013 Kenworth W900 & 2011 Mississippi Tanker.
BEST ENGINE: Shawn Gibson of Broken Bow, OK – 2013 Peterbilt 389.
LIMITED MILEAGE (BOBTAIL): 1st Jed Howard & Andy Geary of St. George, UT (PDI) – 2001 Peterbilt 379; 2nd Shawn Gibson of Broken Bow, OK – 2013 Pete 389; 3rd Ron Baird of Thorntown, IN – 2000 Pete 379; 4th Jonathan Dyck of Winnipeg, MB, Canada – 2007 Peterbilt 379 Legacy; 5th Doug Simpson of Rockwood, PA – 2000 Peterbilt 379.
LIMITED MILEAGE (COMBO): 1st Bryan Mantz of Anthony, KS – 2013 Kenworth W900 & 2011 Mississippi Tanker; 2nd Brian Davis of Owensville, IN – 2005 Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Wilson Hopper; 3rd Dustin Dickerson of Lebanon, IN – 2007 Peterbilt 379 & 2006 MAC End Dump; 4th TJ Timblin of West Bend, WI – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2010 Quick Draw Step Deck; 5th Paul Marcotte of Momence, IL – 1999 Peterbilt 379 & 1976 Kari-Kool MC307.
SPECIALTY AWARDS
FIRESTONE’S “MOST ADVANCED CAB” AWARD: Dave Conkling of Metairie, LA – 2013 Freightliner Cascadia.
JONES PERFORMANCE’S “BEST THEME” AWARD: Mike Manuel of Front Royal, VA – 1984 Peterbilt 359 & 2003 Benson Flatbed.
ROCKWOOD’S “RUNNIN’ LATE” AWARD: Larry Wheeler of Crown Point, IN – 2004 Peterbilt 379.
ROADWORKS’ “BEST USE OF CHROME” AWARD (BOBTAIL): Phil Langevin of Carleton Place, ON, Canada – 2012 Peterbilt 389.
ROADWORKS’ “BEST USE OF CHROME” AWARD (COMBO): Brian Davis of Owensville, IN – 2005 Peterbilt 379 & 2012 Wilson Hopper.
JAKE EILEN “PRIDE IN YOUR RIDE” MEMORIAL AWARD: Dallas McCord of Anderson, IN – 2007 Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW (WORKING BOBTAIL): Jonathan Eilen of Hampton, MN – 2007 Peterbilt 379.
BEST OF SHOW (WORKING COMBO): Jeremey Graves of Anthony, KS – 2013 Peterbilt 389 & 2013 Mississippi Tanker.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Jed Howard & Andy Geary of St. George, UT (PDI) – 2001 Peterbilt 379.
